Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/116174
both men tumbling down. The ingenious Boyes eventually used a well-trained mule as his shooting platform and in time, the mule became his constant hunting companion. Unfortunately, his success would come to a tragic end several weeks into his Lado excursion. Boyes and his men were tracking a large bull elephant in a dry scrub area of the Enclave. They reached a small clearing where he could see the bull, which sported long, heavy tusks. As it ivory in just one month. Elephants were so abundant that some hunters earned upwards of 16,000 pounds sterling ($75,000) in just six months – a lot of money for that time. Despite his early good fortune, Boyes soon realized the difficulties and dangers in elephant hunting. In much of the area the grass grew too tall to see over; often he had to sit on the shoulders of a porter or gunbearer to take a shot. Invariably the recoil would bring turned to face the hunters, the bull let out a deafening scream and then charged at frightening speed. Boyes fired his rifle, which appeared to stop the bull in its tracks. As the dust gradually settled, Boyes waited to see what damage he'd done. To his horror the elephant was not at all handicapped, but suddenly emerged through the dust, bearing down on him once again. Boyes grabbed his second rifle from the gunbearer, but before he could raise it to his shoulder the bull was on him, ripping the gun from his hands with its massive trunk. The shocked hunter could only look on in amazement as the elephant began to beat his rifle against the ground. Boyes took this opportunity to dive for cover. Just then the bullet in the rifle's chamber fired, spooking the elephant and sending it charging down the track and into the bush. Boyes dusted himself off and went in search of his men. He soon found his gunbearer lying not far from the shattered rifle. The elephant had knelt on the luckless native and plunged his tusks through the man's chest. Boyes and the porters performed an impromptu burial service and then continued their hunt. LEGENDS OF THE HUNT This story will appear in John Seerey-Lester's next book, Legends of the Hunt – Campfire Tales, scheduled for release early this year. The new book will be a beautiful sequel to his immensely popular Legends of the Hunt, which features some 80 stories and more than 100 paintings. The big, 11x12½-inch, 200-page book is still available in three editions: • Trade – Hardbound, $60. • Elephant Edition – 950 leatherbound, signed & numbered copies, each with a special print, $150. • Lion Edition – 520 leather-bound, signed and numbered books, each with a hand-colored giclee print, $250. To order, call (800) 849-1004 or visit www.SportingClassics.com. S P O R T I N G C 28 L A S S I C S